stopping the play

Question
in 10u does getting the ball back to the pitcher show control of the ball and stop the play? If not please explain what will stop the play without these girls throwing the ball all over the field.

thanks,
darrin lane

Answer
Darrin, I chuckled when I read your question because I feel your pain.  A softball ricocheting all over the field until the bases clear is one of the most painful thing to watch in all of youth sports.

Getting the ball under control of the pitcher in the circle does not stop play, but it comes pretty close by invoking the Look Back Rule (LBR).  When the pitcher has the ball in her glove or hand, she is in the circle, and is not attempting a play or faking a throw the LBR is in effect.  One other thing, if there is a walk, the LBR doesn't go into effect until the batter reaches first base.  This is an abbreviated explanation of the LBR, the rule book uses several paragraphs for this.  You should get a rule book to fully understand the rule and its penalties.

Once the LBR is in effect, the runners must choose a base, they can advance, or retreat.  They can't just stand there and dare the pitcher to do something.  If they commit to a base then stop, they are out.  There is nothing in the LBR that makes them stop at the base, they can continue on to the next base if they wish, without stopping.  If a batter walks, simply rounding first towards second is not committing to second.  They can round the base, stop but must "immediately" commit to a base.  How long immediate is, is umpire judgment.

There is only one thing that will stop these young girls from throwing the ball all over the field, practice!  As they spend time in the game, they will get better.  

One coaching tip here.  When the ball is on the right side of the infield, typically in possession of the first base man and a girl is off third daring her to throw so she can run home, or waiting for the throw to the pitcher so she can run, have the first base man run the ball across the infield instead of throwing it.  Have her head toward the home plate side of the runner forcing her to head back to third.  At lowers levels of play, be content with the runner going back to third.  With better players and the SS and LF backing up third, when the girl commits to third, throw her out!